Persist to
We hope this list inspires women to continue forging paths, even when they’re repeatedly interrupted, thwarted, and diminished by the omnipresent male ego.
featuring artists like
Molly Burch, The B-52’s, Lily Allen, Screaming Females, Malvina Reynolds, The Runaways
You may have noticed that all of the artists featured on the Music to Persist to are females. We promise it’s not because we don’t love and appreciate male musicians, we just happen to think there aren’t nearly enough outlets to showcase all of the badass lady singers out there. For centuries, women haven’t been given anywhere near the same amount of opportunities that males have. Despite that inequality, these female artists have inspiringly managed to carve out a creative space for their lyrical stories.
We hope this list inspires other women to continue forging paths, even when they’re repeatedly interrupted, thwarted, and diminished by the omnipresent male ego.
Nevertheless, she persisted.
Try – Molly Burch
9 January 2018
Unrequited love. We’ll all been there, am I right?
Though I’m currently in a mutually loving and respectful relationship, it wasn’t that long ago that I was crooning in a steamy shower over yet another fuckboy down the drain.
Dance This Mess Around – The B-52s
25 October 2017
I remember when I saw B-52s at the Rialto Theater in Tucson, Arizona a few years back. I was in my early 20s and expecting a highly energetic performance.
Ever heard this phrase? “Quit while you’re ahead?” None of the members of the B-52s ever have apparently. Instead, I imagine they all have matching tattoos on their rear ends that say something like “Keep on Truckin’” because that’s exactly what they’re doing.
The Fear – Lily Allen
10 October 2017
When asked to pick a song for this playlist I immediately knew my first selection would have to be Lily Allen, my go-to for feminist anthems. The question was, which Lily Allen song? Instead of picking one from her brilliant and feminist (in a more obvious way) album Sheezus, I’ve picked an earlier hit, The Fear.
Ripe – Screaming Females
28 August 2017
If I could have picked my own voice, I would have certainly chosen something other than this nasally one I’m currently rockin’. Instead, I’d much rather sound like Marissa Paternoster. I know what you’re probably thinking, “WHO THE HELL IS THAT?”
Little Boxes – Malvina Reynolds
1 August 2017
Like most folks living in this century, you probably associate this song with the early 2000s television series “Weeds”. The opening credits for the show were set to this track, and each episode featured a different musician covering the song.
Cherry Bomb – The Runaways
25 July 2017
It’s one of those songs I put on when I feel like maybe, just maybe, all of the annoying components of everyday life, briefly summed up by the task of struggling to remain safe and sane while trying to get enough sleep and tick off enough gigs to earn the dollar, don’t really matter in the end.
Somebody – Dream Wife
18 July 2017
This song isn’t overly complicated nor is it overly angstyInstead, it’s a catchy tune that lightheartedly mocks the unwanted attention that pretty girls in male-dominated industries have to face. Sure, being a pretty girl has its advantages but sometimes it can also feel like a curse.
Dancing Barefoot – Patti Smith
7 July 2017
You know how you sometimes hear a song and each verse feels like an entry from your own diary?
Patti Smith gives an extremely moving account of a universal story: falling for someone against your better judgement: “here I go and I don’t know why / I spin so ceaselessly.”
Priestess – Pumarosa
6 July 2017
This song reminds me of an awesome sign I saw at the Women’s Day March a few months ago. “We are the granddaughters of the witches you couldn’t burn.”
Dear Darkness – PJ Harvey
27 June 2017
I am so glad to be a contributor for this playlist. As I’m growing older, I realize more and more the importance of female solidarity in my life. And while these words may have a pretty elevated ring to them, female solidarity starts with quite simple, everyday things.
Werewolf – Fiona Apple
16 June 2017
I know what you’re thinking.
“How cliche. The first song she picks is by Fiona Apple? What is she? Some kind of angsty, male-bashing feminist?”
Well, not exactly.